Analyzing the Four State Vocational High School students’ perceptions of English, English Training, and Its Future
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35870/jpmn.v5i1.4634Keywords:
Analyzing, The Four Vocational High School Students, Perceptions, English Training, Future Use of EnglishAbstract
As part of the annual community service to help improve the school students' English skills, Technocrat Foreign Language School Tangerang conducted a community service in The Four State Vocational High School in Tangerang Regency, Banten. The English training emphasized improving the students' English communicative skills and their interest in practicing the language. The survey research, which succeeded in the training, indicated some important findings, such as the positive perceptions toward the English training, the perceived importance of English for the student's future careers, the importance of English subjects/courses in higher education as well as in employment. Specifically, the role of English in the hospitality, service, retail, and creative industry will be imperative. Of the four skills, speaking was deemed the most important skill to learn for employment. Concerning their future career, the students expected to have a non-English teaching career after graduating from college. The present study attempted to highlight the issue of the English training, potential employability, and the perceived important skill needed by the vocational high school graduates so that they can have more chances to work in the above industries. Further study should identifiy more skills specifically needed in the above industries so that the amount of unemployment from vocational high school graduates can be reduced.
Downloads
References
Agustina, V., Thamrin, N. R., & Oktoma, E. (2024). The Role of English Language Proficiency in the Global Economy and Business Communication. International Journal Administration, Business & Organization, 5(4), 82–90.
Ahmad, Sari, N.K.W.M., Damayanti, S., & Pranata, A. (2024). The effectiveness of English in supporting communication with costumers to provide the best service in the world of work. Bisnis Manajemen, 3(1), 30–38. https://ejournal.mandalanursa.org/index.php/Bisnis
Anjani, S.A., Utami, I.G.A.L.P., & Adnyani, N. L. P. S. (2024). Student perception in learning Engish speaking ability through implementing instagram. PROJECT: Profesional Journal of English Education, 7(2), 661–667.
Aziz, F.N., Roziqin, A., Loilatu, M.J., Sulistyaningsih, T., Hijri, Y.S., & K. (2024). Research Trends of Creative Industries in Indonesia: A Bibliometric Analysis. J Knowl Econ, 15, 2571–2588. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-023-01299-5
Barella, Y., Fergina, A., Mustami, M.K., Rahman, U. & Alajaili, H. M. A. (2024). Quantitative Methods in Scientific Research. Jurnal Pendidikan Sosiologi Dan Humaniora, 15(1), 281–287. doi: 10.26418/j-psh.v15i1.71528
Guseman, D. (2003). Service Industry. Encyclopedia of Information Systems, Elsevier, 89–103.
Englander, K. (2014). The Rise of English as the Language of Science. In: Writing and Publishing Science Research Papers in English. SpringerBriefs in Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7714-9_1
Fauziah, A. & Sutrisno, D. (2024). High School Students Perceptions Of Using Social Media In Learning English: Quantitative Study. Teaching English as a Foreign Language Journal, 3(1), 52–67. https://doi.org/10.12928/tefl.v3i1.974
Fitria, F., Baharudin, B., & Wahyuni, B. A. (2022). An analysis of students’ attitude in learning English at Eleventh Grade of SMA Negeri 2 GU. English Education Journal, 8(2), 58–68. https://doi.org/10.55340/e2j.v8i2.1074
Getie, A. S. (2020). Factors affecting the attitudes of students towards learning English as a foreign language. Cogent Education, 7(1), 1–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2020.1738184
Graddol, D. (1997). The Future of English? A Guide to Forecasting The Popularity of The English Language in The 21st Century. The British Council. https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/pub_learning-elt-future.pdf
Hidayati, A., Barr, F. D., & Sigit, K. N. (2021). Kesesuaian Kompetensi Lulusan SMK dengan Kebutuhan Dunia Usaha dan Industri. Ekuitas: Jurnal Pendidikan Ekonomi, 9(2), 284–292. https://ejournal.undiksha.ac.id/index.php/EKU
Holmqvist, J., Vaerenbergh, Y.V., & Grönroos, C. (2017). Language use in services: Recent advances and directions for future research. Journal of Business Research, 72, 114–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.10.005
Jaya, H.P., Petrus, I., & Pitaloka, N. L. (2022). Speaking performance and problems faced by English major students at a university in South Sumatera. Indonesian EFL Journal (IEFLJ), 8(1), 105–112. https://journal.uniku.ac.id/index.php/IEFLJ/index
Kamlun, K., Jawing, E., & Abdullah Gansau, J. B. (2020). Exploring graduate employability in relation to their English language proficiency: A preliminary study. MANU Jurnal Pusat Penataran Ilmu Dan Bahasa, 31(2), 245–255. https://doi.org/10.51200/manu.v31i2.2856
Kapica-Curzytek, J., Karczewska, M., Sharp, R. (2019). The Phenomenon of Global English in the World of Interactive Online Entertainment. In B. Lewandowska-Tomaszczyk (Ed.), Contacts and Contrasts in Cultures and Languages. Second Language Learning and Teaching. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04981-2_15
Karang, P.S.B., Muhayyang, M., & Korompot, C. A. (2023). Students’ perception on English as an obligated course at SMP Negeri 1 Pasangkayu. Journal of Excellence in English Language Education, 2(4), 402–411. https://ojs.unm.ac.id/JoEELE/article/view/54358
Lauder, A. (2008). The Status and Function of English In Indonesia: A Review of Key Factors. Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia, 12(1), 9–20. https://doi.org/10.7454/mssh.v12i1.128
Lee, K. (2012). International trade and services and the role of English. Journal of East Asian Economic Integration, 16(3), 291–314. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2318210#
Lie, A. (2007). Education policy and EFL curriculum in Indonesia: Between the commitment to competence and the quest for higher test scores. TEFLIN Journal, 18(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v18i1/1-15
Natsir, M., Purba, A.S., Ellyana, E., Saragih, A.T., & Amal, B. K. (2022). English Teaching in an Indonesian Vocational High School Majoring Industrial Machinery Engineering. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 14(2), 1743–1754. doi: 10.35445/alishlah.v14i1.1221
Nghia, T.L.H., Anh, N.P., Kien, L. T. (2024). English Language Skills and Employability: A Theoretical Framework. In M. T. Nghia, T.L.H., Tran, L.T., Ngo (Ed.), English Language Education for Graduate Employability in Vietnam. Global Vietnam: Across Time, Space and Community. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4338-8_4
Nunan, D. (1999). Second language teaching and Learning. Cengage Learning.
Pan, L., & Block, D. (2011). English as a “global language” in China: An investigation into learners’ and teachers’ language beliefs. System, 39(3), 391–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2011.07.011.
Park University. (2025). English in pop culture: The language of music, movies, and TV shows. Blog. https://www.park.edu/blog/english-in-pop-culture-the-language-of-music-movies-and-tv-shows/
Putri, N.E., Kher F.D., Rani, Y.A., & Ramli, J. A. (2018). English for specific purposes: English language needs in hosptitality and travel industry. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research of Higher Education, 1(1), 1–17. https://ijmurhica.ppj.unp.ac.id/index.php/ijmurhica
Qasserras, L. (2023). Systematic Review of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in Language Education: A Balanced Perspective. European Journal of Education and Pedagogy, 4(6), 17–23. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejedu.2023.4.6.763
Rahmani, S. F., & Laratmase, A. J. (2024). Examining English Proficiency of Hotel Management Students: Study at Horison Hotel School. English Language in Focus (ELIF), 6(2), 149–156. https://doi.org/10.24853/elif.6.2.149-156
Rajitha K, & Alamelu, C. (2020). A Study of Factors Affecting and Causing Speaking Anxiety. Procedia Computer Science, 172, 1053–1058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2020.05.154
Rini, J. E. (2014). The position of English in Indonesia: Its position among other languages in Indonesia. Beyond Words, 2(2), 19–39. https://doi.org/10.33508/bw.v2i2.591
Roy, B. J., Embong, R., Purnama, B., & Wadi, A. S. (2021). The challenges of English language teaching in Indonesia. IJEAL, 1(3), 158–168. doi.org/ijeal.v1n1.1157
Safira, L. & Nadhira, F. (2021). Addressing the Employability of SMK Students through Improved English Curriculum. In Policy Brief No. 15. https://repository.cips-indonesia.org/media/publications/558659-addressing-the-employability-of-smk-stud-7fc05ce2.pdf
Sinaga, O. (2018). Students’ perception on the role of English Day Program in speaking skill development. Journal of English Language Teaching, 4(2), 103–117. https://doi.org/10.33541/jet.v4i2.834
Sitoy, J.S., & Sonsona, R. P. J. V. (2024). Investigating the Use of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Strategies to Promote Innovative Teaching and Learning Approach. Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia, 13(2), 393–402. https://doi.org/10.23887/jpiundiksha.v13i2.79184
Songbatumis, A. M. (2017). Challenges in teaching English faced by English teachers at MTsN, Taliwang, Indonesia. Journal of Foreign Language Teaching and Learning, 2(2), 54–67. file:///C:/Users/Akademik-2/Downloads/3208-8921-1-PB.pdf
Tagg, C. (2020). English language and social media. In D. Adolphs, Svenja and Knight (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of English Language and Digital Humanities. Routledge Handbooks in English Language Studies (pp. 568–586). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003031758-30
Un-udom, S., Chaumklang, A., & Intasena, A. (2024). Enhancing English Proficiency for Thai Music Professionals: A CLT Instructional Package. Higher Education Studies, 14(2), 161–169. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v14n2p161
Werner, V. (2022). Book Review: English rock and pop performances: A sociolinguistic investigation of British and American language perceptions and attitudes. Journal of English Linguistics, 50(4), 418–422. https://doi.org/10.1177/00754242221136097
Widiawati, P.S., Ratminingsih, N.M., & Agustini, D. A. E. (2020). The effect of debate technique towards eleventh-grade students’ speaking competency. Journal of Educational Research and Evaluation, 4(3), 267–271. https://ejournal.undiksha.ac.id/index.php/JERE
Zalzulifa, Z., Nasruddin, N., & Rabernir, R. (2023). Publipreneur based Language Learning (PBLL) as Thematic Approach in Teaching English for Creative Industry. Journal of World Science, 2(11), 1802–1821. https://doi.org/10.58344/jws.v2i11.417
Zannah, F., & Hidayanti, D. (2024). Students’ perception toward the importance of having English speaking skill of English language education study program Universitas PGRI Kalimantan. JIMPS, 9(1), 80–90. http://doi.org/10.24815/jimps.v9i1.29416
Zein, S., Sukyadi, D., Hamied, F. A., & Lengkanawati, N. S. (2020). English language education in Indonesia: A review of research (2011–2019). Language Teaching, 53(4), 491–523.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Aam Alamsyah, Santosa, Mutaat, Zaenal Abidin, Edy Suprianto, Devian Try Gustary, Anggit Laesa Oktaviani, Theresia Mundi Astuti, Radik Darmawan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1. Copyright Retention and Open Access License
Authors retain copyright of their work and grant the journal non-exclusive right of first publication under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
This license allows unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
2. Rights Granted Under CC BY 4.0
Under this license, readers are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial use
- No additional restrictions — the licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as license terms are followed
3. Attribution Requirements
All uses must include:
- Proper citation of the original work
- Link to the Creative Commons license
- Indication if changes were made to the original work
- No suggestion that the licensor endorses the user or their use
4. Additional Distribution Rights
Authors may:
- Deposit the published version in institutional repositories
- Share through academic social networks
- Include in books, monographs, or other publications
- Post on personal or institutional websites
Requirement: All additional distributions must maintain the CC BY 4.0 license and proper attribution.
5. Self-Archiving and Pre-Print Sharing
Authors are encouraged to:
- Share pre-prints and post-prints online
- Deposit in subject-specific repositories (e.g., arXiv, bioRxiv)
- Engage in scholarly communication throughout the publication process
6. Open Access Commitment
This journal provides immediate open access to all content, supporting the global exchange of knowledge without financial, legal, or technical barriers.
